Water-cooled chillers

Water-cooled chillers are critical components in HVAC and industrial cooling systems, providing efficient temperature control for buildings and processes. Over time, the condenser and evaporator tubes in these systems will accumulate fouling from scale, algae, biofilm, and other deposits present in the cooling water. This buildup will reduce heat transfer efficiency, increase energy consumption, and strain system performance. Regular and preventive tube cleaning is essential to keep these systems operating at peak efficiency.

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Solutions for cleaning water-cooled chillers

Rotary tube cleaning

Rotary tube cleaning systems to remove fouling inside the tubes of water-cooled chillers, heat pumps and shell and tube heat exchangers.

Chemical tube cleaning

Chemical cleaning-in-place systems and descalers for removing scale, rust, and biofouling inside shell and tube heat exchangers.

Projectile tube cleaning

High-speed tube cleaning systems for removing soft to mediumhard deposits found inside shell and tube heat exchangers and power plant surface condensers.

Pipe cleaning and drying

Specialized equipment designed to clean tubes, hoses, and pipes and remove fluids for complete internal drying.

Tube leak detection

Leak detection systems designed for shell-and-tube heat exchangers to inspect and identify leakage issues in the tubes.

Fouling issues in chiller tubes

In most applications, water-cooled chillers are connected to an open-loop cooling tower, providing a reliable cooling solution for buildings or industrial processes. Because these systems operate as an open loop, fouling buildup naturally forms during operation.

Deposits entering the cooling tower travel throughout the system and attach to surfaces where heat transfer occurs, making condenser tubes particularly susceptible to fouling. Over time, this buildup reduces heat transfer efficiency, lowers system performance and increases energy consumption.

Commonly found deposit types in chiller condenser tubes are:

Silt
Mud
Algae
Biological growth (biofilm)
Rust (corrosion)
Scaling (calcium carbonate)

Effects of fouling in chiller tubes

When condenser tubes become fouled, the heat transfer efficiency of the system is significantly reduced. Below, you can find some of the effects of fouling in a heat exchanger.

Reduced heat transfer rate: Fouling acts as an insulating layer on the heat exchange surface, which impedes the transfer of heat from the hot fluid (typically refrigerant) to the cooling water. This reduces the overall heat transfer rate, as the fouling material (such as scale, dirt, or biological growth) increases the thermal resistance between the fluids.
Increased energy consumption: Because the heat transfer rate decreases, the chiller system may need to work harder to achieve the same cooling effect. This typically results in an increase in energy consumption, as the compressor has to operate longer or at higher power to maintain the desired temperature.
Shorter equipment lifespan: Continued fouling can cause wear and tear on equipment due to higher operational stresses, both from increased energy consumption and from the constant need to pump water against higher pressure drops. This can lead to more frequent maintenance, repairs, and ultimately a shorter lifespan for the condenser tubes and other components.
Corrosion and damage: Certain types of fouling, especially biological fouling or the buildup of scale, can cause local corrosion in the condenser tubes. Over time, this corrosion can weaken the tubes, potentially leading to leaks or ruptures that would require expensive repairs or replacement.

Improve chiller efficiency

Cleaning chiller condenser- and evaporator tubes is a crucial activity to maintain a highly efficient system. Goodway Benelux offers three (3) types of cleaning solutions for removing fouling with chiller tubes. Based on the application, type of deposit and accessability one of the three systems will be the best solution for the application.

Mechanical cleaning with rotating brushes: Perfect for removing commonly found soft to medium deposits within chiller tubes such as: silt, mud, algae, biological growth, light rust and scaling.
Chemical cleaning-in-place: Ideal for removing rust and hard scaling deposits inside the tubes. A descaling agent is circulated through the tubes for a predetermined period, removing the deposits.
Projectile cleaning: Used for chillers or heatpumps with a large amount of tubes to be cleaned, often more than 1000 tubes. This method is fast and effective at removing softer deposits such as: silt, mud, algae and biological growth.

Scroll up to find more information on all three solutions.

Interested in what Goodway Benelux offers for:

Water-cooled chillers

From pre-sales inquiries to technical support, Goodway Benelux is available to assist customers at every stage. The company also provides on-site support, training, and product demonstrations. Their dedicated sales representatives and project engineers are ready to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the entire process.

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Sales and operations manager

info@goodwaybenelux.com +31 (0)183 216 170